It’s time to winterize your pet

You have most-likely winterized your house and your car, but is your pet ready for the cold weather?

By RACHEL STEFFANrsteffan@beauregarddailynews.net

You have most-likely winterized your house and your car, but is your pet ready for the cold weather?

Just because dogs and cats have fur coats does not guarantee they are completely protected from the cold, especially short-hair breeds.

Rita Bingham, adoption coordinator for the Humane Society of West Louisiana, worries about pets in the area.

“Some people believe that if a dog sleeps under a porch, or if he’s got a tree to keep the weather off of him, that’s good enough,” she said.

Common-sense tips

During cold weather, it is important to limit pets’ time outdoors. If they will travel by car, they should not be left in the cold car, as the temperature rapidly drops once the heater has been turned off.

When out for a walk, it is best to keep dogs away from all bodies of water, even if they appear to be frozen. Incidents of dogs falling through ice can be easily prevented.

Dr. Doug Brandon, of the Brandon Veterinary Clinic in Leesville, had tips for keeping dogs warm in the winter.

“Most adult animals will be okay outside if they are kept from the wind and rain, in a shelter like a dog house. If a dog is debilitated, young, or sick, it will need some kind of external heating.” he said.

Outdoor cats often find warm engines are the perfect place to get warm during the cold winter months. It is not always easy to tell if a cat is near the car engine, however. Banging on the hood of the car a few times before starting the vehicle is an easy way to alert a cat who might be under there warming up.

Poisoning

Also, winter means some chemicals are used — chemicals that are unhealthy for pets if ingested.

“Anti-freeze is deadly. Just a few licks will kill an animal.” Brandon said. “People need to make sure their radiator isn’t leaking. Anti-freeze has a sweet taste, and animals will lick it.”

Brandon added that it is important to change coolant in an environmentally safe manner so it is not soaking into the ground, where animals can be exposed to it.

Anti-freeze contains ethylene glycol — a potent toxin to the kidneys. Just one lick of this fluid can be dangerous for a pet. It is imperative that the animal is immediately taken to the vet if owners suspect that anti-freeze has been ingested. It’s essential that ingestion of anti-freeze is treated early.

“Usually, by the time we hear about it, the kidneys are irreversibly damaged,” he said.

Less toxic, but also a danger, are windshield washer products. They contain methanol, which can severely depress the nervous system in pets. If pets ingest these fluids, they may exhibit drooling, vomiting, and instability.

Fire danger

In seeking out warm places, pets may cozy up to space heaters or heat lamps. Fluffy tails can easily ignite into flames. In addition, dogs and cats love to seek out the warmth of a fire. A safety screen is an easy fix to this danger.

Brandon told a sad story that happened this week. An owner, trying to keep newborn puppies warm, placed a heating pad underneath them.

“The heating pad caught on fire and killed all of the puppies. The mother was so injured that she had to be put to sleep,” Brandon said.

Brandon urged that if one must use a heating device, to monitor it very closely, keep it on a low setting, and make sure it is fireproof.

Also, the animal needs to be able to have a place where it can seek its own comfort level for heat.

“Don’t enclose a pet with a heater in an airtight building, without them being able to back away from the heat, and make sure the space is ventilated,” he said.

Brandon added that newborn animals are most susceptible to the cold.

“If puppies and kittens get too cold, they will die,” he said.

Bingham added to that. The only way a dog can regulate temperature is by salivating. That means water, but the body loses heat to water 20 times faster than it loses heat to air.

“What happens next is they’re gonna have hypothermia, and it’s extremely difficult to bring them back,” she said.

Robin Ganzert, president of American Humane, had other warnings for the holiday season.

“When you deck the halls, keep in mind that many popular holiday decorations can be dangerous for your pet. Ribbons, garland, pine needles, and some types of festive plants—like mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias—can all pose serious health threats if ingested,” Ganzert said.

Ganzert also reminded pet owners to hang breakable, glass ornaments well out of reach of a wagging tail or a curious cat, as broken decorations can be harmful to animals when stepped on or swallowed.

Preparing pets for winter weather is not difficult but can prevent some accidents and traumatic outcomes. Veterinarians are happy to answer questions to ensure the safety and well-being of pets in any weather.